'Scandal' of move to translate Welsh exam work in to English

AN ASSOCIATION that works to improve Welsh-medium education for pupils has criticised one of the UK's largest examining bodies as it looks to get pupils work translated from Welsh to English for marking.

Parents for Welsh Medium Education, RhAG, has criticised the examining body, Edexcel, which is looking for people to translate Welsh pupils' exam papers from Welsh into English so that they can be marked by non-Welsh speaking examiners.

Further criticism has come as an English company has been awarded the contract.

RhAG Development Officer, Ceri Owen, said: "This is a scandal, in what other country would it be deemed acceptable that translated work is examined rather than the original?

"They should have the same conditions as their contemporaries who study through the medium of English, where there is no interference in the original work.”

A concern put forward by the association is that the work being assessed isn’t that of the pupil’s but another person's interpretation.

She added: "The Welsh Government's Welsh-medium Education Strategy aims to increase the number of students aged 14-19 studying for qualifications through the medium of Welsh. It is quite obvious that the existing infrastructure is totally inadequate.

“This examination board, and all other examining bodies from outside Wales, need to employ more professional practitioners who are qualified and able to fulfil their work through the medium of Welsh as a matter of urgency."